Bouche’s Bomb in the 10th Lifts Pirates Over UNCW in Midweek Thriller
WILMINGTON, N.C. — It wasn’t always pretty, and it definitely wasn’t easy, but East Carolina found a way to get it done Tuesday night in Wilmington.
Tied at 6–6 in the 10th inning, Alex Bouche stepped up with the bases loaded and absolutely launched one over the wall in right-center for a go-ahead grand slam. The clutch blast gave ECU a 10–6 lead, and the Pirates slammed the door shut in the bottom half to secure a gritty 10–6 win over UNCW in extras.
“I knew he was throwing a lot of curve balls,” Bouche said after the game. “I saw it in the tunnel and put a good swing on it. I was busting it out of the box, saw it kept carrying and luckily it got over.”
Bouche finished the night with five RBIs including an earlier run-scoring double and had the clear moment of the night when he turned on a 0–1 pitch and delivered what ended up being the game-winner.
The Pirates came out swinging in the first. Dixon Williams and Walker Barron each brought home runs with sacrifice flies, Alec Irby ripped an RBI double, and Kenan Bowman knocked in another with a single. Just like that, it was 4–0 ECU before UNCW even came to bat.
The Seahawks chipped away with two runs in the second, but ECU tacked on another in the fourth when Bouche shot an RBI double down the left-field line. Jack Herring gave the Pirates a brief 6–4 lead in the seventh with a base hit to center that brought home Braden Burress.
But in the bottom of the eighth, UNCW tied things up with a two-run homer to make it 6–6. That’s how it stayed until Bouche’s big swing in the 10th.
Kenan Bowman had a monster night going 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. He also reached base in the 10th to help set up Bouche’s grand slam. Irby finished with a hit, run, and RBI, and Herring added a pinch-hit RBI single in a key moment. ECU collected 10 hits and drew 12 walks, showing a great mix of patience and timely hitting.
Bullpen Holds Strong to Back Up Bats
On the mound, the Pirates used six different pitchers in what turned into a true staff night.
Jaden Winter started and worked 1.2 innings, walking three and allowing two earned runs without giving up a hit. Ian White followed but recorded just two batters faced before Lance Williams came in and picked up the final out of the second.
Nick Moran delivered one of the best outings of the night, tossing 2.1 no-hit innings with four strikeouts and two walks keeping the game tied and giving ECU a chance to take the lead late.
Jake Hunter was solid in his 1.2 innings of work, but did allow the two-run shot in the eighth that tied the game.
That handed the ball to Ethan Young, who earned the win after throwing the final four frames. Young allowed just three hits and two earned runs while striking out four and walking none improving to 3–0 on the season.
“Everybody that came out of the bullpen gave us a little something,” head coach Cliff Godwin said. “I was really proud of Ethan. After giving up the homer, he put up a zero and that allowed us to put up the four-spot.”
The ECU pitching staff combined for 10 strikeouts, just six hits allowed, and held strong in the biggest moments including a clean bottom of the 10th to shut the door after Bouche’s slam.
Another Big One in a Busy Week
Defensively, the Pirates were sharp with no errors and several key outs behind their pitchers. It wasn’t their cleanest game of the season, but the Pirates made plays when it counted and once again showed the depth and toughness that’s helped power them through the last few weeks.
East Carolina, which is off to a 6–0 start in The American, got a much-needed Quad 2 non-conference victory to begin a five-game week. The Pirates have now won 12 of their last 14 and sit at 19–10 overall.
The Pirates have a quick turnaround before Wednesday's home game against Elon inside Clark-LeClair Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET.